Apple Grower of the Year Pt 1

With today's Fruit Grower Report, I'm Bob Larson. Every year, the U.S. Apple Association honors one grower as the Apple Grower of the Year. This year is no different, but if you planned to nominate someone for this year's award, the deadline is fast approaching.

Valent Crop Marketing Manager Mark Mason says the deadline to nominate someone for this prestigious award is this Sunday, May 19th ...

MASON ... "Valent is a proud sponsor of this award, the Apple Grower of the Year. It's one of our few tokens of how much we appreciate the entire industry and the individuals that have to work to bring such marvelous produce to our stores every year."

Mason says the Apple Grower of the Year is not necessarily the biggest producer ...

MASON ... "Well, it's not based on operation size, rather apple growers who have demonstrated innovative products and practices, business management or marketing, or anything else that really shows that they are leaders in the apple industry. That's what they're looking for, leadership."

So, where do you go if you've got a special someone you'd like to nominate? ...

MASON ... "There's a link on www.growingproduce.com for anyone to nominate a grower. Then there's a select group that sorts through all of those and looks at some of the best growers and who deserves to become the Apple Grower of the Year."

And, who is eligible for nomination?

MASON ... "Any grower in the U.S. is eligible to be nominated for the Apple Grower of the Year."

Listen tomorrow for more on this year's Apple Grower of the Year award and this Sunday's deadline for nominations.

BL: Welcome back to another "Fruit Bites" brought to you by Valent U.S.A. Joining us again is Valent's Allison Walston. And this week Allison, we're talking about new trends in the organic market?

AW: With organic produce, heirloom or heritage varieties are popular. Whether it is flavor, biodiversity or dietary, these charming heirloom crops are grown on a smaller scale and provide uniqueness to the consumer and a bit of a taste revolution.

BL: Speaking of revolution, I read that people are actually hunting for old apple varieties thought to be lost.

AW: yes, these apple trees have survived and since faded into the background. They provide a chapter of history through taste. But even though they've survived our weather conditions, did they fade into the background because commercially, growers couldn't make them productive?

BL: and that's where the potential lies within the organic market

AW: It's a nice story anyway. Plus maybe one day, those survival traits might help parent the next generation of apples.

BL: Who knows, thanks Allison. Join us again next time for Fruit Bites, brought to you by Valent. Until then, I'm Bob Larson.

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